By Miriam Raftery

January 8, 2018 (El Cajon) – Firefighters from the San Miguel Fire Department have set up a Go Fund Me page to help a family of 20, including many adopted children with disabilities.  A fire outside the Hauer family’s home yesterday damaged two vehicles, including a specialized van used to transport youngsters with medical needs.

By Miriam Raftery

January 7, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – 2017 was a tumultuous year by any standard – from storms and wildfires that impacted our region to political turmoil at the national, state and local levels.

There have also been positive and inspiring stories, lawmakers embroiled in controversies, and important community actions.

Here are the top stories, arranged alphabetically by category, that impacted people in our region.

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

Photo:  Medicaid serves more than 74 million children, low-income adults, and people in nursing homes across the United States. (NACHC)

January 8, 2018 (Sacramento) - Some health experts are predicting the mother of all Medicaid and Medicare battles this year, as Republicans take a run at cutting social-service programs in order to reduce the deficit.

January 7, 2018 (La Mesa) --You’re invited to a Russian and Ukrainian feast with our East County Dining Club on Thursday, January 25^th  at 6:30 p.m. at Village House Kalina (8302 Parkway Drive, La Mesa). As always, we’ll have prizes galore! Proceeds benefit East County Magazine and our wildfire/emergency alerts.

 Join us on our culinary adventure to the land of hearty and flavorful fare  – food that nourished the creative powers of Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky,  Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Pasternak, Cossack dancers and the Bolshoi Ballet.  Da!

This restaurant seats only 38 people so we expect to sell out; early RSVPs are recommended.

We must receive your RSVP no later Jan. 24, along with choice of entree (see list below) since these special dishes take time to prepare!

By Miriam Raftery

January 8, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the trout season reopener at Santee Lakes, pianist John Nilson in Descanso, the Lore of the Kumeyaay at the Water Conservation Garden, full moon fishing at Lake Jennings, the Mousetrap onstage in La Mesa, a Martin Luther King commemoration in Lemon Grove honoring local civil rights leaders, as well as hawk watching events in Ramona and Santa Ysabel.

Plus, we’ll have coming attractions including a local authors’ expo at the El Cajon Library as well as authors at libraries in Julian and Rancho San Diego, live music by local bands and soloists at Riviera Supper Club and San Pasqual Winery in La Mesa, a 50 kilometer race and Active Lifestyle Expo in Santee, the Oak Ridge Boys at Sycuan, a chamber music society concert and a jazz performance in La Mesa, a concert by the Martin Luther King Choir ensemble in Lemon Grove, a star party at Mission Trails, and Seussical the Musical in Spring Valley. 

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

By Jillian Hymer

January 7, 2018 (San Diego’s East County)--Readers and writers in East County can attend literary events at local libraries.  Scroll down for in-depth details on January events and some February-March listings in East County, which we've listed in four categories: events for writers such as workshops and critique groups, author appearances, poetry events, and book clubs for readers to discuss literary works.

You can  get information on more upcoming events on the San Diego County Library website.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jay Adeff, U.S. Figure Skating Association

View video excerpts of their winning performances at U.S. nationals here:  https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/949798302979100679  and https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/949103279803392001

January 7, 2018 (Ramona) – Chris Knierim and his wife, Alexa Scimeca Knierim, have been chosen to represent the U.S. in the 2018 winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea in February, after capturing the first place medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. 

Knierim grew up in Ramona and Escondido, skating at San Diego Ice Arena in middle school, NBC 7 has reported. 

The couple nailed their Olympic spot with their signature thrown quadruple twist, despite missing side-by-side jumps.  They finished first overall after also taking first place in the short program.

East County News Service

January 6, 2018 (Santee) – From fishing events to movies, concerts, and holiday celebrations, you’ll find lots of activities coming up in the New Year at Santee Lakes—starting with Trout Re-Opener days on January 13 and 14, when the lakes will be stocked with 2,000 pounds of rainbow trout.

Scroll down for details and learn more at www.SanteeLakes.com.

By Miriam Raftery

January 6, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The first significant Pacific storm of the season is forecast to hit our region Monday night through Wednesday morning, bringing up to four inches of rain to mountain areas along with snow above 4,500 feet.  Thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds are also predicted.

Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House, by Donna Brazile (Hachette Book Group, Inc., 2017, New York, NY, 268 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

January 5, 2017 (San Diego) - Donna Brazile, former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman has written a provocative and timely book about election politics and alleged Russian influence in our political process; Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Santa Barbara oil spill, 1969, dumped up to 100,000 barrels of crude oil off California's coast, killing 3,500 sea birds as well as marine mammals such as dolphins and seals. (Dick Smith Collection, University of Santa Barbara)

January 5, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke yesterday issued a sweeping proposal to open up 98% of all outer continental shelf areas for offshore oil drilling -- including off San Diego’s coastline.  By contrast, drilling is currently allowed in only 6% of those areas.

The proposal, which also includes plans to drill in the Arctic, elsewhere along the west coast, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast, has drawn strong opposition from environmental groups and from California’s Attorney General.  View map of proposed drilling sites. The public will have an opportunity to weigh in however in public comments and public meetings to be held around the country.  A schedule of those meetings will be posted here.  Online comments at regulations.gov will be accepted starting January 8^th.

East County News Service

January 4, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library in La Mesa will host “Osteoporosis and Exercise: What Is Right and What Is Risky,” a free program on the disease that thins and weakens the bones, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free and RSVP is not necessary. Light refreshments will be served. Handouts will be available. The library is located at 9001 Wakarusa St.

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

Photo: Avid Creative

January 4, 2018 (Sacramento) -- Almost 250 California businesses and children's groups have sent a joint letter to the state's members of Congress, urging them to pass the Dream Act, which would give certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children a work permit and a path to citizenship.